Former world number one Annika Sorenstam made a solid start to her final tournament on the women's tour by carding a two-under 70 in the opening round of the Dubai Ladies Masters on Thursday. The 38-year-old Swede, who has won 72 LPGA tournaments including 10 majors, sits four shots adrift of leader Briton Johanna Head. Sorenstam will retire after the Masters to get married, start a family and pursue her business interests. Sorenstam began strongly with birdies on the 10th, 12th and 13th holes. She bogeyed the 14th, then birdied the 16th before carding a double bogey at the par five 18th hole after her third shot spun back from the green into the water. England's Johanna Head took the opening-round lead with a bogey-free 66. Germany's Anja Monke shot 68 to be second, while compatriot Katharina Schallenberg, Sweden's Maria Boden and Italy's Veronica Zorzi were tied for third a further shot back. England's Laura Davies opened with a 70 to be tied for sixth in a group with Sorenstam. Money List leader Gwladys Nocera of France was tied for 69th after a 75. Davies take lead Welshman Rhys Davies carded an eight-under-par 64 Thursday to take the first round lead in the 300,000-dollar Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open and promised to make amends for last week's heartbreak. Two-time Asian Tour winner Anthony Kang of the United States was a shot further back on 65 while Indonesia's Rory Hidayat posted a 66 to take third place. Thailand's Chawalit Plaphol was in fourth place on 67. Compatriot Thongchai Jaidee, Thaworn Wiratchant together with Australia's Gavin Flint, Malaysia's Airil Rizman and Korea's Park Jae-bum are bunched together in fifth on matching 68s. Davies came agonisingly close to his maiden win on the Asian Tour last week when he lost in a play-off to Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee at the Hana Bank Vietnam Masters. Snake gives a shock Briton Robert Rock chased the birdies but gave a dangerous snake the slip on his way to a six-under 66 in the first round of the Dunhill Championship at Leopard's Creek at melelane, South Africa, on Thursday. European team Ryder Cup golfers Soren Hansen of Denmark, Paul McGinley of Ireland and England's Oliver Wilson have joined the European team for Thailand's Royal Trophy next month, organizers said Thursday. The three were named by Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal, who is filling in for close friend Severiano Ballesteros as captain of the side that will take on a team from Asia.
